Chapter Thirteen: Crap. Why Can't He Just Stay Outside Like a Good Boy?
Warnings: I don't... believe so?
You glanced at the doors of the palace as you turned to Odysseus. You were not going to let your thoughts linger on Hermes for any longer.
“Okay, here’s the plan,” you said before your captain could even open his mouth. You placed a fist in the center of your other palm and gave Odysseus a toothy grin. “You, stay out here.”
“You heard me.” Your voice was calm as you stood in the line of your captain’s misguided rage. “She may listen to a woman, and if you show yourself, you risk our chance to get our men back.” Your gaze softened a fraction as you saw the distressed look on Odysseus’s face. “I know it’s hard, but you have to let me do this.”
“Fine.” He turned head away from you, eyes studying a patch of grass to the left of his feet as if the vegetation was the most interesting thing he’d seen all day. “Just… don’t get hurt, alright? Eurylochus and Polites won’t ever forgive me if anything happens.”
He didn’t give you a second glance as he made his way back into the forest, and for once you were glad, for he didn’t see the rosy blush tinted across your cheeks from his statement.
You took a deep breath and forced open the doors. Best idea? No, but you weren’t in the right state of mind to worry about that as you walked into the palace.
It was just as luxurious on the inside as it was on the outside, walls adorned with gold and silver jewels that gleamed in the sunlight. Nymphs eyed you from doorways but didn’t stop you or ask for your name; your air of confidence perfected with delicate poise stopped them from even moving a centimeter.
You raised your head and walked straight into what must’ve been a throne room, despite the grand dining table in the centre.
You saw Circe cleaning up the dishes, her back facing you. You narrowed your eyes, but decided to follow your own advice and start with the more respectable approach.
“Lady of the palace, sorry that I ask this, but I hope that I’ve been misinformed,” You took a few steps forward, keeping your chin high.
Circe whirled around at the sound of your voice. She tensed as she guessed why you were in her palace.
“I sent out some scouts to take a look around through here.” You gestured vaguely around you as you continued. “And they wound up at your doors.”
You picked up a glass and examined it, though your mind was racing. “Through the years, we seldom get a warm welcome, so I must ask just to be sure.” You raised your eyes to Circe’s. “Did you do something to them?”
Circe smiled. “Who, me?” She questioned, pointing a finger to herself. “All I did was reveal their true forms.”
You scowled. “You turned them into pigs.”
She looked at you as if you might be more of a pest than she had thought. “Huh.”
You only realized Circe held a wand when she pointed at you menacingly. “I don’t know who you are, nor why you’re here.” One deliberate step toward you. “But let me make this one thing clear. I’ve got people to protect. Nymphs I can’t neglect.” She pointed at a few nymphs who had apparently followed you in.
Circe drifted closer, and you saw that she was hovering in midair, just like Hermes did. “So I’m not taking chances, dear.”
“If you make one wrong move, then you’re done for.” Circe held up a singular finger, a miniature tornado swirling around the tip. “Anything I don’t approve, then you’re done for. I could put a spell on you and you’re done for.” She sent a gust of wind in your direction, but you sidestepped easily; you knew she could do better. The witch only wanted to frighten you away rather than actually put a spell on you.
“Oh, you better run or soon you will be done for,” Circe said.
You smirked. “I don’t mean to tip your scale, but you will fail at placing any spells on me,” you assert. “I just ate a flower, one that claims your power.” You drew your sword in a flash of silver movement and pointed it at her. “So you better cower now and flee.”
Circe blinked in confusion. “You must be a liar. Mortals can’t acquire moly without dire consequence.”
You smiled with what you hoped was breezy confidence. “Then I must be god like you,” you reasoned. “‘Cause I got this root from the ground with my bare hands.”
The witch gave you an unamused look. “Hermes gave it to you, didn’t he?” She demanded.
You crossed your arms and huffed. “Okay, fine, yes, but regardless,” you muttered, taking another step so that your sword was almost touching her.
“You and I are now evenly matched,” you stated. “Our fates are intertwined, they’re attached.”
Circe looked down at her wand and then her nymphs. “I’ve got people to protect!”
You shook your head. “Friends I can’t neglect.”
You and Circe spoke in harmony. “So now there is no turning back.”
A form of a lion flickered to light behind the witch, and you narrowed your eyes, summoning your own creature- a massive hawk, you found. How ironic, the sacred animal of Hermes.
“You’ve made your one wrong move, now you’re done for.” You advance on Circe as your hawk engages in battle with the lion.
“I will be the one to prove that you’re done for,” the witch snarled as she threw spell after spell at you.
You parried each and every one, your blade seeming to absorb the magic. “Not even a spell saves you, ‘cause you’re done for. Oh, you better run, or soon you will be done for.”
You cut Circe’s wand in half as she tried to put it between your sword and her neck.
“You’ve lost,” you announced, blade to the witch’s neck.
Circe curled her fingers around your sword, which you thought was a very bold move, considering the position she was currently in.
“My nymphs are like my daughters, I protect them, at all costs.” You looked away, knowing that Circe was trying to extract sympathy from you. “The last time we let strangers live, we faced a heavy loss,” she continued. “You’ve given me no reason to bestow you with my trust.”
Circe paused for a second, looking over your shoulder and smiling wickedly. “But everyone’s true colors are revealed in acts of lust.”
You turned to see what she was staring at. Your nostrils flared. Hadn’t you told the idiot to stay outside? Yes, you remember saying so.
But no, Odysseus stood in the doorway.
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